A bra and method of manufacturing the same that is designed to (1) provide the optimum level of support, comfort, fit and coverage to a wearer of the bra, (2) visually enhance the wearer's figure by preventing cup gaping and side and top overflow or bulging, and (3) improve the breathability of the bra, thereby reducing sweat and irritation of the skin on or around the wearer's breasts. The bra of the present disclosure comprises bra cups that include intermediary flexible layers that are configured such that they allow the bra cups to stretch and contract to accommodate and fit snugly around the wearer's breasts.

A brassiere, such as a backless and optionally strapless brassiere, includes a basque to accommodate the torso of a user, a pair of concave cups coupled to a portion of the basque, and a pair of reinforcement plates coupled to the concave cups. The reinforcement plates help support a wearer's chest in each one of the cups. Each of the reinforcement plates include fingers extending from an outside of a respective bra cup toward a center of the respective bra cup. The fingers include a first finger extending under the area of the respective cup.

The invention relates to a backless and optionally strapless brassiere comprising two textile layers, as well as chest underwiring and cup reinforcements. The torso underwiring comprises a substantially horizontal main bottom portion which is coupled, at the sides of the torso, to two substantially horizontal top side portions. Each reinforcement is a thin plate of rigid material including extensions extending from a side region arranged substantially outside each cup and engaging with the top side portion of the underwiring.

The brassiere with adjustable spacing between cups includes an elastic band adapted for releasable mounting about a user's torso and a pair of shoulder straps secured thereto. A pair of fabric cups are secured to the elastic band for supporting the user's breasts. A lower portion of each cup has a channel defined therein and an open end. Each end of an elongate, flexible support wire or member is slidably disposed within a respective one of the channels. Additionally, a pair of flaps are respectively secured to the pair of fabric cups. Each of the flaps has a free end for selective positioning adjacent a respective open end of each of the channels. The free ends may be secured together such that when the flaps are secured, the support wire allows the spacing between the cups to decrease, thus providing additional inward and upward support for the user's breasts.

A brassiere adapted for use by wearers with healed augmented breasts includes a pair of short, flexible underwires, each of which are encased within a narrow letter U shaped channel, and a pair of deep-profile cups with each cup being positioned above and contoured by a respective underwire of the pair of underwires. A pair of support frames is positioned on an inner side of either cup, each support frame of the pair of support frames being configured to have a rounded bottom that contours the bottom edge of the respective cup under a respective breast of a user and a vertical side edge that contours the upper outer side of the brassiere. A center gore is disposed between the pair of cups and extends between the cups. An adjustable band is configured to wrap around the back of a user and has a pair of embedded cushioning strips.

A polymeric breast support structure to be incorporated into a breast support garment such as a bra, bustier, swimsuit, or similar, comprising a soft polymeric material and a wide cross-section that provides support without discomfort.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology relate to wire-free push-up brassieres having the versatility to provide enhanced lift, support, and comfort across a range of breast sizes. A wire-free push-up brassiere disclosed herein includes a hinge that extends along a bottom edge of the padded portions of cups of the brassiere. The hinge may be a stabilizing channel formed between the bottom edge of the padded cup portions and a top edge of the cradle. The hinge may be formed of a stabilizing material that provides the hinge with both rigidity and flexibility. In particular, the stabilizing material may impart a rigidity to the hinge that reinforces the breast support provided by the cups, thereby enhancing the push-up characteristics of the brassiere. At the same time, the stabilizing material may have enough flexibility to allow the hinge to accommodate a range of breast sizes.